Silken
Thomas.
Tomás an tSíoda
(1513–1537)
Thomas FitzGerald son of Gerald
FitzGerald, the 9th Earl of Kildare spent a considerable amount
of his early life in England. In February 1543 Thomas father was
summoned to London, before he left he appointed Thomas deputy governor
of Ireland. Thomas then only 21 years of age was surrounded by English
Lords greedy to lay their hands on the Kildare estates, his inexperience
led to him embarking on a rebellion against Henry VIII rule in Ireland,
based a rumor put about in June 1543 that his father had been executed
in London and that the same fate awaited him and his uncles.
Despite advice from many of
his elder kinsmen on 11th June Thomas summoned the Council and accompanied
by 140 horsemen with silk fringes on their helmets, rode to St Mary's
Abbey, Dublin where he renounced his allegiance to King Henry VIII,
self proclaimed Lord of Ireland.
In July of that year he attacked Dublin castle
resulting in the rout of his army, previously Archbishop Alen had
tried to mediate in the dispute, Thomas ordered that the Archbishop
be murdered, resulting in the loss of support of the clergy. Thomas
retreated to Maynooth Castle stronghold of the Kildare's, in March
1535 Thomas was away gathering reinforcements when the castle was
attacked by Sir William Skeffington leader of the English forces
who had bribed a guard. The garrison surrendered and were all put
to the sword, this event became known as 'The pardon of Maynooth'
Lord Leonard Grey arrived in Ireland as Lord
Deputy with orders to crush the rebellion, with Grey's arrival Thomas
found his former allies melting away and submitting to Grey. Anxious
to end the matter as soon as possible The Lord Deputy made it be
known that he would personally guarantee Thomas's safety if he submitted
unconditionally to the king's mercy, taking Grey at his word the
young Thomas FitzGerald surrendered.
In October 1535 he was sent as a prisoner
to the Tower, there he languished in a wretched state until 3 February
1537 when despite the assurance of Lord Grey he along with five
of his uncles were hung drawn and quartered at Tyburn.
The death of Silken Thomas largly brought
to an end Irish born nobles holding the post of Lord Deputy.
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